- The Persian Gulf is a marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
- It separates the southwestern coast of Iran from the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
- The Persian Gulf is also known as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf.
- It is the world’s most vital shipping route for crude oil.
Geographic Features:
- The Persian Gulf is approximately 990 kilometers (615 miles) long and 320 kilometers (200 miles) wide at its widest point.
- The Persian Gulf’s surface area is approximately 240,000 square kilometers (92,661 square miles).
- The average depth of the Persian Gulf is 50 meters (164 feet), with the deepest point at 105 meters (344 feet) in the Strait of Hormuz.
Geographical Importance:
- The Persian Gulf is a strategically important region due to its vast oil and natural gas reserves.
- The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is one of the most critical chokepoints in global oil trade, through which a large portion of the world’s oil passes.
- Several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, are major oil-producing nations and hold significant influence in the Persian Gulf.
Political Significance:
- Due to its strategic location and wealth of natural resources, the Persian Gulf region has been a source of political tensions and conflicts.
- Territorial disputes, historical rivalries, and political differences among regional countries have contributed to periods of instability.
- The Persian Gulf has been a geopolitical hotspot, with international involvement, particularly from the United States and other foreign powers, aimed at maintaining regional stability.